Tractor



Apr. 1o, 192s TRACTOR original Filed May 1o, 192i 2 sheets-sheet l I N VEN TOR. FRA/w( #ooe/lss 1,451,613 F. HoDGKlss TRACTOR Apr. l0, 1923 Original Filed May lO, 1921 2 sheets-sheet; 2

` wardly extending lug (14) Patented Apr. 1o, i923.

UNITED STATES PATENT lori-1 FRANK HoDeKiss; or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. y

i,i5i,613 its TiiAoToR.

` original appiiction ined May i0. 1921, s eiiai No. 4138338. Divided and this application inea December 21,1921. Serial N0. 523,972,

,To rtZZw/z-.Om t may concern.' A.

. Be it knownthat I, FRANK Hoocxiss, a citizen of the United States', and resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented Va new and useful '.[lractor` of which the following is a specitication. y ,n

v,The present invention relates to.' improvements in tractors and is a divisional application of that led by ineen May 10,' 192i, Serial No. 468,338.` The principal object is to provide a newtrack.layingineclianisin which is exceedingly Simple and reduces fric- 'y tion to a minimum, including a new sprocket vwheel. and track laying links co-opera-ting with the saine. f y

1 )Vith this object in mindI have illustrated the preferredfformof my inventiony in the accompanying drawing in which Figure- 1 represents ra side elevation 'of my device showing the ftracklayer mounted on. its frame, Figure 2 is a detail viewv showing several of the links of my traoklayer .in plan view, Figure 3a cross section along line 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4a cross section through .a hinge memberV by means of which two adoining links; are oined together. y )While have illustrated ,only one preferred form of my invention I wish to have vit understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope-ofthe claims hereto, attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail they tractor is supported on two endless tracks (2)'each of which is adapted to travel on and around a track-frame (3), two idlers (4) and (6), and a sprocket Wheel (7) adapted to transmitmotion to the track from its l shaft (8). The track is illustrated in detail in Figures (2) and (3) and comprises a plurality of links (9), all of which have the same shape. Each link comprises al substantially rectangular metalY plate (11) having,

when viewed as lying on the ground as in projection (12) Figure (3), a downward the soil, an upadapted to dig itself into ing a yperforation (16) therein and-twovparallel upwardly extending lugs (17) with perforations (18) therein. The two lugs (17) are spaced so as to be adapted to receive the lug (14) of the next adjoining link, the perforations (16) and (18) registering when the lugs are joined. I wish to point out that I do not think .manner that the two of these arrangements will at oney end havit necessary to provide two spaced llugs at one end, since onellug may do 'just as well', "if properly placed. When I use onlyone lug at either end, Ivarrange them in staggered relation, either stag- (link, so that in the' gering them on each series of links each lug would loe alined with "thecorresponding lugl of` the next link, or

staggering them linkwise, that is, Iin suoli lugs on the vlinkV would be alined with each other' and with both lugs on '-each third link, y link being alined with each other. Either give satisfactory resultsand I do not wish to be. coiinedpto c any one ofthem, the principal kpoint ofviny invention being that `only Aone `central hinge is provided between each two'links. To prevent dirt from` working into thelinksrv and hinges andto provide additional gripping means I provide a lip (21A) on each link adapted to overlap the near edge of an` adjoining link when the track is lying flat.`

provided with longitudinal Each link is also n upwardly extending flanges (22)y adapted to Acontact correspondingy flanges secured to `the frame and to. therebyy guard the links from dirt and dust. i e c c The links are hinged together by means of f the bearing members (.23) extendingthrough adjoining the registering perforations iii the lugs of each two links.

bers is shown in detail in prises apin (24), a central sleeve (26) thereon and two rollers (27) rotatably secured thereto. The central sleeve is co-extensive with the width of the lugs, rand the rollers, being of a somewhat larger circumference than the sleeve, are adapted to hold the lugs in their place on the sleeve. A central axial grease -hole (28) extends from one end of the pin to its center, then turns in radial direc- One of these niem- Figure 4 and 'cointion and is adapted to deliver grease to the central part of the bearing surface of the hinge connection.

To impart motion to the endless track ymade of these single links, I provide the sprocket wheel (7), shownin vside view in Figure 1. This sprocket wheel is an ordinary wheel with a rather wide riin (31) and has an annular groove in said rim. This groove is of sufficient width to receive the lugs (14) and (17) while the two flanges of the rim flanking the groove, are provided with Aa plurality of transversely the lugs on each second` llt) l flanges (22) on alined notches (34:) adapted to be engaged by the rollers (27).

The track frame consists of two substantially horizontal members (36) and (37), two substantiallyv vertical end members (38) and and a central vertical brace (41'). Its horizontal members which come in contact with the track are provided with central grooves (42) corresponding to and alined with the groove in the sprocket wheel. The lower yone ot' the horizontal members, which rides on the rollers of the track is provided with guards (43), extending downwardly'to come within close reach of the the links ot the track, as mentioned hereinbefore so as to allow as little dirt as possibler to enter the link connections, without, however, touching the linksand aiding in anyway in 'the support of the trame. The track .trame is provided withk a forwardly extendingbracket (44) which has a horizontal slot (46), .in which is secured a bearing (1LT) for the idler (6). The bearing may be adjusted in the slot by means of the screw (48) and inthis manner any possible slack,-that may develop in thev up. At the rear end, in the lower corner', the track :trame suports, in the bearing (-19), the second idler ,(4). Both idlers are provided with grooves alined with the groove in the sprocketvwheel track, may be taken and with proper bearing surfaces for the rollersof the track. y

' It will be seen that in this manner a seltl'aying track is secured. that is exceedingly simplein construction, and allows the track :trameto ride directly on the hingesfconnecting the track links, without any interveningr wheels, or the necessity7 off extra ball bearings, the rollerssecured to the pins allowing the track frame to ride easy on the track.

I claim:

i. Ak hinge engagement between two links of thecharacter described, comprising a central lug rising from one of the links and a pair of spaced lugs rising from the other adapted to receive the singler lug between the same, a pin having a central sleeve there# on engaging the three lugs and extending beyond the same at either end, with collars at either end of larger diameter than the sleeve for holding the lugs in engagement with the sleeve.

2. A hinge engagement between two links of the character described,comprising a central lug rising from one of the links and a pair of spaced lugs risingfrom the other adapted to receive the single lug between the same, a pin having a central sleeve thereon engaging the three lugs and extendingbeyond the same at either end, with collars at either end of larger diameter than the sleeve for 'holding the lugs in engagement with the sleeve, said collars being` of sut'iicient width to allow the link'to be forwardedy thereby.

3. A hinge engagement between two links of the character described, comprising aA central lug rising from one of the links and a pair of spaced lugs rising from the other adapted to receive the single lug between the same, a pin having a central sleeve thereon engaging the three lugs and cxtendingbeyond the same at either end, with collars at either end of larger diameter than-the sleeve for holding the lugs in engagement with the sleeve, and means for introducing a lubricant between the pin and the sleeve.

` FRANK HODGKISS. 

